Minister Donohoe must support moves on tax haven “blacklisting” at tomorrow’s EU meeting

Responding to the latest Paradise Papers revelations which contain startling information about multi-national companies such as Nike and Glencore and which highlight Ireland’s relationship with Apple, Jim Clarken, Oxfam Ireland, CEO said;

“The latest leaks show the lengths to which major multi-nationals have gone to avoid tax. Tellingly, they claim that “Ireland tied itself in knots hoping to retain Apple”. This is unedifying, damages our international reputation and deprives governments of vast sums in tax revenue.

Tomorrow in Brussels, EU finance ministers will discuss setting up a blacklist of tax havens. Blacklisting is one measure which can be effective for tackling tax avoidance, so Minister Donohoe needs to express Ireland’s unequivocal support for the move."

Corporations such as Apple, Nike and Glencore spend millions lobbying governments to water down tax reforms. The 50 biggest US companies, including Apple, spent an estimated $352 million lobbying on tax issues in the country between 2009 and 2015 while receiving over $423 billion in tax breaks. For every $1 they spent lobbying on tax issues they received an estimated $1200 in tax breaks